Durham PreK Families

Durham PreK

Durham County Government has committed to expanding access to high-quality, publicly supported pre-kindergarten through a mixed-delivery system with private early childhood programs, Durham Public Schools and Head Start.

Why is PreK important?

A high-quality early childhood program that provides a safe and nurturing learning environment develops the physical, emotional, and cognitive development of young children. Attending a high-quality early learning environment can promote a child’s school readiness and support their transition into kindergarten.

Is my child eligible for Durham PreK?

All Durham County children who have turned four by August 31st of the school year attending are eligible for Durham PreK. Below is Durham PreK’s sliding scale for families:

Free for families at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and household size

Start charging a parent fee at 300% FPL on a flat percent of a family’s gross monthly income

Use a tiered system that starts the flat percent at 4% at 300% FPL and moves to 7% at 350% FPL

When is the school year for Durham PreK?

Durham PreK will be a 10-month program that follows the Durham Public Schools calendar.

How long is the school day for Durham PreK?

The Durham PreK school day will be 6.5 hours long.

When can I apply for Durham PreK?

We have now started the application process for the 2019-2020 school year. Please call 919-314-6813 to schedule an application appointment. For more information about how to apply, please click here.